PERM Delay Threatens H1B Visa Timeline
An very precarious scenario arises for a senior data scientist employed in the energy business whose H1B visa is set to expire in october 2026. He recently used social media to communicate a very personal and professional dilemma. He stated that the most important step in obtaining a green card, the PERM process, has been discontinued. And why? During the hiring process, a suitable individual was discovered, which instantly ended the application process.
The H1B holder's options are restricted as time runs out. In order to allow for renewals, U.S. immigration law mandates that a PERM application be submitted at least a year before the visa's expiration date. It would take an additional nine months to begin the application process given the october 2025 deadline, putting the candidate dangerously close to the deadline without any guarantee of acceptance.
He remarked, "I don't have much faith left in the company or the lawyers; they keep putting things off." There is now a sense of dissatisfaction as his alternatives are becoming more restricted. He must decide whether to continue working for his current employer in the hopes that they will be able to resume the PERM process, or whether to leave in march 2025 and take a new chance on immigration timeframes.
Many professionals in comparable roles have shown support for one another, while others have offered guidance. Alternatives have been proposed, such researching O-1 visas, which are awarded to those who possess exceptional ability in their industry, or looking for work in nations with more lenient immigration laws.
He remarked, "I don't have much faith left in the company or the lawyers; they keep putting things off." There is now a sense of dissatisfaction as his alternatives are becoming more restricted. He must decide whether to continue working for his current employer in the hopes that they will be able to resume the PERM process, or whether to leave in march 2025 and take a new chance on immigration timeframes.
Many professionals in comparable roles have shown support for one another, while others have offered guidance. Alternatives have been proposed, such researching O-1 visas, which are awarded to those who possess exceptional ability in their industry, or looking for work in nations with more lenient immigration laws.